Job Discussion Forums

[dawndada]

I have just obtained my Bachelor's of Commerce (specialization in Marketing) and plan on teaching in South Korea or Taiwan in September. I am getting mixed reviews on whether or not I should get certified to teach. Many people say it's enough that I have a Bachelor's degree. What do you think?

Also, I am a Filipino-Canadian, and some people are telling me that I should get certified to avoid any discrimination (e.g. getting underpaid just bc I'm Asian or to ensure that I get hired at a school that hires based on credentials and not physical attributes).

Please let me know what you think! I do not want to shell out $500 for nothing!

dawndada

[thrifty]

500 dollars?

If that is all you are going to spend then no don't bother.

[younggeorge]

With a degree in Commerce, why do you want to teach TEFL? If you realy think that's a good idea, then yes, you should get a TEFL Certificate - preferably a CELTA - it will help you to actually do the job, not just to get one.

[PAULH]

[denise]

It's definitely worth it to get certified, both so you will know what you're doing and so your students will get what they are paying for (i.e., a qualified teacher). 500 is a bit cheap, though. A good course (100 or more hours of class time with several hours of supervised practice teaching) will cost two or three times more. Think of it as an investment in yourself. You can get jobs without a certificate, but unless you already have teaching experience, how good a job will you do?

d

[thrifty]

It is very refreshing to hear someone mention the students.

[tedkarma]

Students in most countries pay what for them is a large amount of money to be in the classroom with you. It's only fair that you learn a few skills about how to deliver a decent lesson to them.

Get some training. Observed teaching practice is an important part of picking up those skills.